Welcome to the Le Tastevin Wine Club

Upcoming Events

Hard to believe, but we're now past the half-way point of our 2016-2017 season, and our next tasting - German whites and Pinot Noir from around the world presented by Ethan and Bob - will occur next year on January 11, 2017, at our usual time and Southfield location.

Past Tastings

Bordeaux Joe and Dave pulled out all the stops in presenting a wonderful sampling of various red Bordeaux from the outstanding 2000 vintage. These were paired with three cheeses designed to pair with a range of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blends. Ken, unfortunately, was absent but will hopefully and magically reappear at the next tasting.

Other News

Next season's (2016-2017) wine tasting schedule has been posted, and can be seen on the wine tastings page. Also, the sortable and searchable tables for both wine tastings and cheese pairings have been updated, and made more useful when browsing with multiple devices, including smartphones and tablets. The wine listings table now has over 700 entries.

The historic drought affecting the American west, California in particular, is now resulting in wildfires that are threatening many of California's famous wine-producing regions.

Peer reviewed article in PNAS on a modeled impact of climate change on ecosystems and wine production: Hannah et al. (2013) write "...on a global scale, the impacts of climate change on viticultural suitability are substantial, leading to possible conservation conflicts in land use and freshwater ecosystems. Area suitable for viticulture decreases 25% to 73% in major wine producing regions by 2050 in the higher RCP [model] 8.5 concentration pathway and 19% to 62% in the lower RCP 4.5. Climate change may cause establishment of vineyards at higher elevations that will increase impacts on upland ecosystems and may lead to conversion of natural vegetation as production shifts to higher latitudes in areas such as western North America." Telling is Figure 1 with the impacts graphically illustrated on maps. Most important has to due with current vs. future land use and ecosystem management. The authors note: "Freshwater habitats may be particularly at risk where climate change undermines growing conditions for already established vineyards." Given the fact that many (if not most) freshwater habitats (springs, stream and rivers, wetlands and lakes) and surrounding supportive watersheds are over-stressed due to changing precipitation patterns and increasing human water diversion, both from surface and groundwater sources, and increasing landscape modification, this may be a increasingly important environmental and political issue that stakeholders and policymakers are probably ill prepared to handle.

International Variety Catologue (Vitis) is an on-line resource documenting grape genetic resources, facilitating the exchange of material and an information source for breeders, researchers, and wine growers. Want to know the country of origin of a variety pedigree? The ancestral information breeder name and/or location of the breeding institute holding institution? The area planted with the variety in grape growing country? This and more information is included in this site.

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Our Wine Club

Le Tastevin Wine Club is Michigan's most prestiguous - and best - wine tasting club. Established by Graham Jackson in 1970, members enjoy tasting wines from all around the world. Our cellars have wines that span vintages of over 40 years. Le Tastevin offers our members outstanding wines and cheeses in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Membership is very limited, and is granted by invitation only.